Wallet with auxiliary foldable pockets



Jan. 3, 1950 s. KNEE 2,493,409

WALLET WITH AUXILIARY FOLDABLE POCKETS Filed Oct. 26, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 39 1950 s` KNEE WALLET WITH AUXILIAR-'rP FOLDABLE POCKETS Filed oct. 9e, 1949 IN VEN TOR. SMO/V KNEE Patented Jan. 3, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALLET WITH AUXILIARY FOLDABLE POCKETS' -Simon Knee, Newark, NZJ.

Application October 26, 194'9, Serial No. 123,725

(Cl. 15G-38):

8 Claims.

This invention relates to wallets, and more particularly to wallets of the type having, besides the usual bill compartment, pocket-forming appendages for the reception of personal articles, such as identification cards, photographs and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wallet which has, besides a main pocket or compartment customarily used for bills, several appendages which form windowed pockets for the reception and individual display of a maximum number of personal articles, and which may readily be folded against, and releasably be secured in their folded condition to, the main pocket so as to have the wallet normally compact and ready for immediate and convenient access to the more frequently used lbill compartment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a wallet of this type in which there are provided, preferably on each end of the bill compartment thereof, a plurality of end-to-end arranged appendages which are so foldable against, and releasably securable in their folded condition to, the bill compartment that their contents is securely locked therein and only one of their display windows is exposed to view, thereby to enable the owner of the wallet to keep articles therein of a more personal or secret nature such as photographs, for instance, hidden from the unauthorized view of others, and to have a more frequently used article or articles, such as identification papers, for instance, on full display in the wallet even when the appendages are secured in their folded condition to the bill compartment.

It is another object of the present invention to make provisions in a wallet of the type having a folding main or bill compartment, for mounting the inner wall of the main compartment for limited longitudinal sliding movement relative to the outer wall thereof so as to permit the inner wall to adjust itself in neatly folded disposition within the folded outer wall, whereby the wallet may always be folded completely and neatly regardless of the number of bills in the main compartment.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front view of a wallet embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the wallet;

Fig. 3 is Aan enlarged top plan view of the 'wallet arranged differently than in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Fig. v`l;

Fig. 5 is an 'enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 5--5 ofFi'g. l;

Figs- 6 V:and Y7 are sections taken on the lines 6--6 and v1 7, respectively, of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 8v is a reduced fragmentary section taken substantially `on the line 8-18 of Fig. 5;

lFig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing another 'form of the invention;

Fig. l10 is a :plan 'view of the wallet shown in Fig. 9, one set of pockets unfolded and another set of pockets in folded relation;

Figs. 11 and 12 are sectional views on the line Il-l Il of' Fig. 9 and on the line |2-I2 of Fig. 10, respectively.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularlyto Figs. 1 Vto 4 thereof, the reference numeral l0 designates a wallet which comprises a main pocket I2, and appendages I4, I 6 and t8, 2l? on the 'opposite ends, respectively,rof the main pocket l2. The main pocket lf2, which is customarily used for holding bills, is formed by a back wall 22, and a front wall 4'28 which, in the present instance, is ymounted for limited' longitudinal sliding movement on wall sections 24 and 26 that are secured with their opposite Vend margins to the opposite ends, respectively, of the back wall 22. The back wal-l 22,` which `is preferably made of a single piece of readily iiexible leather `or a similar material, has its top, bottom and side margins turned inwardly as at 30, 32 and 34, respectively, to present iinished 'edges'on all sides. lThe inwardly turned margins 32 and 340i the back wall 22 form thereon pockets in which the opposite side margins and the bottom margins of the wall sections 24 and 26 are received and permanently secured by lines of stitching 4l),` t2v and 'B4 -(Figs. 1, 2 and 4). The front wall 28, as well as the wall sections 24 and 26 are preferably made of the same material as the back wallV v22. The adjacent ends 46 and 48 of the wall sections24 and 26, respectively, are spaced from the median fold line of the back wall 22 about which the main pocket 'I'2 is foldable into closed disposition for secure retention of the bills therein and for convenient wear of the wallet on the owners .'person. For uniform 'and neat appearance of the back wall 22 on the outside of the wallet, there is preferably placed a further line of stitching 52. in the inwardly turned top margin itt) of th'eback wall l22 (Figs. 1 and 2). The wall section 24 extends from the stitch line 42 upwardly valong the outside of the front wall 28 "(Fig's'. 1 and '6), and'h'as an extension 51 which is turned' inwardly behind the front wall 28 and secured with its margin 53 to the back Wall 22 by the stitch line 40 (Figs. 5 and 8). Likewise, the wall section 26 extends from the stitch line 42 upwardly along the outside of the front wall 28 (Fig. 4), and has an extension 55 which is turned inwardly behind the front wall 28 and secured with its margin 51 to the back wall 22 by the stitch line 44 (Fig. 5).

Also secured to the back wall 22 of the main pocket I2 by the lines of stitching 40 and 42 are the side and bottom margins 59a and 59h, respectively, of a flap 56 (Figs. 1 and 5) which is superposed on the wall section 24 and secured with its top margin 6| to the inwardly turned extension of the wall section 24 by stitches 63 (Figs. 6 and 8). The ap 56 forms together with the adjacent wall section 24 a pocket A58 (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) which is open at 60.

The wall section 26, which has a window opening l0 (Figs. 4 and 5), forms with the adjacent portion of the front wall 2S a pocket 10 which is accessible at 'I8 for the insertion of any article to be displayed behind the window opening 10. The window opening I0 is preferably covered by a sheet 80 of any suitable transparent plastic s material such as Celluloid, which may conveniently be cemented or otherwise secured to the inner face of the wall section 26.

Inasmuch as the appendages on each end of the main pocket I2 of the instant wallet are identical in their construction, only the appendages I4 and I0 on one side of the main pocket I2 will be described in detail hereinafter. The appendages I4 and I6 provide identical pockets 90 and 92, respectively, (Fig. 4) which are accessible at 94 and 96, respectively, on opposite sides of a fold line 93 (Figs. 1 and 3) about which these appendages may be folded into superposed relation with each other. The pockets 90 and 92 are formed by a common back |00 and adja- Y.

cent front sections |02 and |04, respectively.- The back |00 and front sections |02 and |04 may conveniently be made of the same flexible Inaterial as the main pocket I2. The back |00 is conveniently secured with its side margin |06 to the adjacent side of the back wall 22 of the main pocket I2 by the stitch line 40 (Fig. 4). The front section |02, which together with the adjacent portion of the back |00 forms the pocket 90, is also conveniently secured with its side margin |08 to the adjacent side of the back wall 22 of the main pocket I2 by the stitch line 40 (Figs. 1 and 4). For better appearance of the joinder of the appendage I4 with the main pocket I2, and also for more secure attachment of the front section |02 to the main pocket I2, the side margin |08 of the front section |02 extends for some distance over, and is preferably cemented to the outer face of the flap 55 (Figs. 1 and 5). and is further passed at ||0 through a slot I|2 to the inner face of the flap 55 to which it is also cemented. The front section |02 and adjacent portion of the back |00 are Closed along their adjacent side margins by lines of stitching ||4 and IIE, respectively, which also extend along the adjacent side margins of the front section |04 and adjacent portion of the back |00. Thus, the pockets 90 and 92 are closed at their opposite sides by the stitch lines ||4 and II6 (Figs. 1 and 7). The bottom of the pocket 92 is also closed by a stitch line II'I (Figs. 1 and 4). 'I'he front section |02 and adjacent portion of the back |00 are provided with opposite Window openings ||8 and |20, respectively, for the display of any article or articles inthe pocket 90 (Fig. 4). The window openings IIB and |20 are preferably covered by Celluloid or other transparent sheets |22 and |24, respectively, which are conveniently cemented or otherwise secured to the opposing inner faces of the front section |02 and back |00, respectively. The front section |04 and adjacent portion of the back |00 are also provided with window openings |28 and |30, respectively, for the display of any article or articles in the pocket 92 (Figs. 4 and 7) The window openings |28 and |30 are preferably covered by Celluloid or other transparent sheets |32 and |34, respectively, which may conveniently be cemented or otherwise secured to the opposing inner faces of the front section |04 and back |00, respectively.

For folding the appendages I4 and I6 onto the main pocket I2, the appendage IE is first folded about the line 98 into superposed relation with the appendage I4, whereupon both folded appendages I4 and I6 are turned as a unit about the end |35 of the appendage I4 (Fig. 3) into superposed relation with the main pocket I2. In order releasably to secure the appendanges I4 and I6 in their folded condition to the main pocket I2, the wall section 24 of the latter is provided with a snap fastener element which is adapted to cooperate with a companion element |42 on the back |00 of the appendages I4 and I6 (Figs. l, 3 and 4). The appendages I8 and 20, which are of the same construction, and similarly attached to the main pocket I2, as the appendages I4 and I6, are also provided with a snap fastener element |44 which cooperates with a companion element |45 on the wall section 26 for releasably securing the appendages I8 and 20 in their folded condition to the main pocket I2 of the wallet (Fig. 3).

By folding the appendages I4 and I6 as described, and releasably securing them in their folded condition to the main pocket I2 of the wallet by means of the companion fastener elements |40 and |42, only that face of an article in the pocket 90 which is exposed through the window opening |20 (Figs. 2 and 4) is displayed on the side of the appendage I4 (Fig. 3), while all other matter in the pockets 90 and 92 is hidden from view. Thus, the pockets 90 and S2 in the appendages I4 and I6, respectively, may serve for holding articles, such as photographs, for instance, which the owner of the wallet wants hidden from the unauthorized view of others, while an identication card or operators license, for instance. may be permanently displayed behind the window |20. The pockets formed in the appendages I8 and 20 may be used in a similar manner as the pockets 90 and 92 in the appendages I4 and I 5.

As previously mentioned, the front wall 22 of the main pocket I?. of the wallet mounted for longitudinal sliding movement relative to the back Wall 22. To this end, the front wall 23 is at its opposite ends provided with preferably punched-out loops |52, respectively, (Figs. 5, 6 and 8) through which pass slit portions |54 of the inwardly turned extensions 5| and 55 of the wall sections 24 and 26, respectively (Fig. 5). Thus, the front wall 28, which is otherwise unattached to the wallet, is free to slide longitudinally relative to the back wall 22 to a limited extent. To present a nished appearance when the main pocket I 2 is unfolded (Fig. 1), the top and bot- 'tom edges of the front wall 28 are at least between the wall sections 24 and 25 turned inwardly as at and |62, respectively (Fig. 8).

By the provision of the longitudinally slidable front Wall 28 in the wallet, the latter may readily and completely be folded about the line 50 (Fig. 1) regardless of thenumber of bills in the `main pocket I2. Thus, on placing even an unusually large number of bills in the main pocket I2, the front wall 28 thereof will not in any way impede the ready folding of the wallet because the former will slide with its opposite ends along the slit portions L54 of the extensions 5I and 55 of the wall sections 24 .and 26, respectively, sufficiently to prevent any buckling of said front wall 28 when the wallet is folded, as will -be readily understood.

In the form of the invention illustrated by Figs. 9 to l2, the auxiliary pockets 200, 202 and 21M are disposed in foldable relation with the innermost pocket 200' attached by a line of stitching 206 to the inner side wall 208 of the wallet along a line parailel and adjacent to the top of the main pocket of the wallet. The outer wall of the main pocket is indicated at 2 I 0. These auxiliary pockets are formed of Celluloid or other transparent material and adjacent pockets are foldably attached or hinged to each other by the fabric strips 2 I 2 adhesively or otherwise secured to `adjacent marginal edge` lportions of adjacent pockets, respectively. Each pocket is open preferably at its opposite ends 2I4. Companion snap fastener elements 216 and 2I8 are provided on the pockets 230 and 2 I4 to releasably hold the several pockets in overlying relation. It will be understood that when the snap fasteners are engaged, pictures or other articles in certain, but vnot all, of the pockets may vbe viewed by turning or separating the pockets in the manner of the -leaves of the book and access may be had to the openings of said pockets, and that when the snap fasteners are disengaged all of the pockets may be unfolded so that the contents of all of the pockets may be viewed and access had to all of the pockets.

Another group of auxiliary pockets 220, 222 and 224 are shown disposed at the side of the wallet (Figs. 9 and 10). The pockets of this group may be of the same construction as those of the above described pockets shown by these figures, but this last mentioned group are arranged with their fold lines parallel to the transverse fold line 226 of the wallet. Companion snap fastener elements 228 and 230 are provided on the pockets 22!! and 222 for the same purpose as on the pockets previously described. The pockets 220 to 224 may be releasably positioned in the wallet by inserting the pocket or flap 232 in the wallet side pocket 234, or these pockets may be attached to the wallet by a line of stitching at the right hand side of and adjacent to the fold line 22S and parallel thereto.

It will be noted that in all forms of the invention, the auxiliary pockets are transparent or have window openings preferably at both sides of each pocket, but it will be understood that only one side of the pocket may have a window opening or be transparent and that the opposite side may be opaque. Also it will be understood that the wallet may be provided with only one set of auxiliary pockets instead of with the two sets as illustrated.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the present invention without departing from the underlying idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim Aand. desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

i. A Wallet, comprising opposed walls dening a main pocket foldable along a transverse line intermediate the ends thereof, a series of relatively foldable auxiliary pockets disposed at one side of -said transverse line, said relatively foldalbie pockets being disposed, when relatively folded, 4in superposed relation overlying said main pocket at one side of said transverse line, and a plurality of said auxiliary pockets being foldable from said superposed relation to an extended position `in unfolded relation in which they lie beyond the adjacent edge of said main pocket, and companion fastening means on two of said auxiliary pockets, respectively, for releasably securing them together, in their folded relation, for concealing the presence of one of said two auxiliary pockets.

2. A Wallet, comprising opposed walls defining a main pocket foldable along a transverse line intermediate the ends thereof, a series of relatively foldable auxiliary pockets of which one is secured to said main pocket and all are disposed externally of the latter at one side of said transverse line, said auxiliary pockets being disposed, when relatively folded, in superposed relation overlying said main pocket at one side of said transverse line, and a plurality of said auxiliary pocketsv being foldable from said superposed relation to an extended position in unfolded relation inwhich they lie lbeyond the adjacent edge of said main pocket, and companion fastener elements on two of said auxiliary pockets, respectively, for releasably securing the overlying margirls at `one side `of all auxiliary pockets in their superposed relation against any substantial movement away from said main pocket.

3. A wallet, comprising opposed walls defining a main pocket foldable along a transverse line intermediate the ends thereof, and a plurality of foldable auxiliary pockets, one of said auxiliary pockets being secured to said main pocket at one side of said transverse line, and all of said auxiliary pockets being disposed, when folded, in superposed relation overlying said main pocket at said one side of said transverse line, and extending, when unfolded, beyond said main pocket, and said auxiliary pockets being, in their unfolded condition, foldable progressively in the same direction, beginning with the outermost auxiliary pocket opposite said one pocket so that, in the folded condition of all auxiliary pockets, said one pocket is uppermost and exposed to view on the unfolded main pocket.

4. A wallet, comprising opposed walls defining a main pocket foldable along a transverse line intermediate the ends thereof, and a plurality of foldable auxiliary pockets, one of said auxiliary pockets being secured to said main pocket at one side of said transverse line, and all of said auxiliary pockets being disposed. when folded, in superposed relation overlying said main pocket at said one side of said transverse line, and extending, when unfolded, beyond said main pocket, and companion fastening means on said main pocket and a certain auxiliary pocket, respectively, for releasably securing all of said auxiliary pockets in their folded relation to said main pocket with said one auxiliary pocket uppermost and exposed to view on the unfolded main pocket.

5. A wallet, comprising opposed Walls defining a main pocket foldable along a transverse line intermediate the ends thereof, and a plurality of u foldable auxiliary pockets of substantially identical dimensions, an endmost one of said auxiliary pockets being secured substantially along an edge thereof to said main pocket externally thereof and at one side of said transverse line, and all of said auxiliary pockets being disposed, when folded, in superposed relation overlying said main pocket at said one side of said transverse line, and extending, when unfolded, beyond said main pocket, and companion fastening means on said main pocket and one of said auxiliary pockets, respectively, for releasably securing all of said auxiliary pockets in their folded relation to said main pocket with said endmost auxiliary pocket uppermost and exposed to view on the unfolded main pocket.

6. A Wallet, comprising opposed walls defining a main pocket foldable along a transverse line intermediate the ends thereof, and a plurality of foldable auxiliary pockets, one of said auxiliary pockets being secured to said main pocket at one side of said transverse line, and all of said auxiliary pockets being disposed, when folded, in superposed relation overlying said main pocket at said one side of said transverse line, and extending, when unfolded, beyond said main pocket, said auxiliary pockets being formed by a continuous iiexible Wall secured at one end to said main pocket, and a plurality of wall sections secured to longitudinally spaced portions, respectively, of said continuous wall, said auxiliary pockets being, in their unfolded condition, foldable progressively in the same direction, begirming with the outermost auxiliary pocket opposite said one pocket, so that, in the folded condition of all auxiliary pockets, said one pocket is uppermost and is with said continuous wall thereof exposed to View on the unfolded main pocket, and companion fastening means on said main pocket and a certain intermediate the ends thereof, a Wall section secured to the outside of one of said opposed Walls at one side of said transverse line to form another pocket open toward the latter, and a plurality of foldable auxiliary pockets of which one has an attachment part received in said other pocket, said auxiliary pockets being disposed, when folded, in superposed relation overlying said main pocket at one side of said transverse line, and a plurality of said auxiliary pockets extending, in the unfolded relation of said auxiliary pockets, beyond said main pocket.

SIMON KNEE.

REFERENCES CIT ED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,712,777 Samson May 14, 1929 1,944,345 Hughes Jan. 23, 1934 2,270,015 Wright Jan. 13, 1942 2,366,875 Renz Jan. 9, 1945 2,431,472 Fistell Nov. 25, 1947 2,439,580 Renz Apr. 13, 1948 

